Neo-Nazis in Trenton? Ignore 'em

Getty ImagesNeo-Nazi protestors organized by the National Socialist Movement demonstrate near where the grand opening ceremonies were held for the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Illinois in 2009. About 20 protestors greeted those who left the event with white power salutes and chants.

It’s Bring Your Own Swastika Weekend: A neo-Nazi group, based in Detroit, is planning a two-day conference in Mercer County, with a rally outside the Statehouse, in April. As if we don’t have enough trouble in Trenton — inside and outside the dome — here comes a phalanx of hate-filled, out-of-state troublemakers with racist beliefs.

The National Socialist Movement, however, says it’s misunderstood.

“We’re considered racists or white supremacists, but that’s not what most of our members are about,” says New Jersey representative Jason Kiecke.

Really? The first of the 25 points of its creed, found on its website, demands “the union of all whites into a greater America.” The words “pure white blood” and “race traitors” appear in other parts of the list.

Among the site’s literature are “Black farmers to receive BILLIONS of U.S. tax dollars” and “Whitewashing Black Racism” and “Nazi’s Hero Pilot Dies at 97.” Sounds pretty racist to us.

NSM members want to protest against, as they see it, the double standard in which only crimes of whites against blacks are considered hate crimes. They’re wrong, of course. The law is clear: Hate crimes are hate crimes, no matter the race of the perpetrator. For racial camouflage, the group says it also will protest high property taxes, corruption and child molestation.

We don’t need a bunch of outside instigators in military-style uniforms with swastikas to tell us our taxes are too high. Duh. We’re paying the taxes. And protesting against corruption and child molestation is like protesting against gassing puppies. They should save their breath.

Want a glimpse into the type of people coming to the rally?

Two weeks ago, a member of the NSM was charged with manufacturing homemade explosives in Arizona. His goal, according to the state’s U.S. attorney, was to “maximize human carnage.”

In January, another member was convicted for encouraging violence against the foreman of a jury that convicted a fellow white supremacist of murdering a federal judge.

In December, an NSM member was found guilty of vandalizing dozens of headstones in a Jewish cemetery near Chicago.

A November rally in Phoenix turned into a rock-hurling melee.

All that in just the past four months.

As hateful as they are, these creeps in dress-up have a right to assemble. But the rest of us have the right to tell them to go away.